Top 7 Romantic Restaurants To Celebrate Valentine’s Day In Chennai

Must-try Valentine's Day hot spots

We are approaching that time of the year when love turns into a full week of festivity. Whether you think cupid deserves an occasion or not, we have got a list of Chennai’s most romantic restaurants for an amorous meal with that special someone.

The best Chinese food for the miles around, China XO is discreet and luxurious. It is the kind of place you could dress up for and woo your date over fine table linen. Embellish your date night with the most delicate Dimsums in the city or maybe enjoy the theatrics of a full Peking Duck Carving.

Fancy some Biryani over Risotto and Kabab over Steak? Punjabi does not have to be Dhaba-esque and at Up North, it gets a gorgeous rooftop setting. Enjoy a glass of wine and the glittering Mount Road skyline before digging into some great Punjabi staples like Dal Makhani, Barrah Kabab and Murgh Puran Singh.

I think most lovestruck couples in the city will think Italian when they imagine a romantic meal. While Bella Ciao has a gorgeous garden and Ottimo at the ITC does clever things with Italian cuisine, Prego has a fine-dining charm perfectly suited for the occasion. Sip from their extensive wine collection and order classics like Prosciutto and Figs with Focaccia, Seafood in freshly made Tagliolini and Porcini Risotto. End with a Tiramisu or a Sicilian Cassata.

Chennai’s top seafood speciality restaurants are unmissable if both of you enjoy the ocean’s bounty. Marina has an upmarket but slightly casual vibe to it and makes for a fun date over good seafood. Begin by taking a tour of their kitchen-front ‘Fish Market’, where the day’s catch is neatly laid out over ice. Either you can pick from variety, choose portion size and preparation method or you can take the tour and leave it to the Chef.

Run by one of the city’s top jewellers, Hamsa boasts of Chennai’s most striking interior designs in a restaurant. Every nook and corner feels hand-carved to impress and the ethos carries over to the kitchen at this pure-vegetarian fine-dine eatery. Try Hamsa’s Homemade Paneer Slices Slathered with Chutney and grilled inside an envelope of the banana leaf along with an extensive range of vegetarian dishes from across the country.

Chennai’s most exciting restaurant ever since it opened in 2017, this is a treat for couples who bond over the food. The contemporary South Indian ambience is cheery and celebrates ITC’s foray into modern Indian cuisine. What is remarkable is the kitchen’s effort to preserve the authenticity of flavour in each dish while adding new dimensions to it. Pick from one of their four tasting menus (there is no a la carte) to enjoy a long and memorable dinner.

Tip: Try to bag a table towards the end of the restaurant, near the open kitchen.

It is a splurge and a long drive away, but nothing comes close to the sophisticated charm of Upper Deck. Set under tents on a raised garden, the restaurant looks out to the Bay of Bengal, shimmering in the moonlight. You can not go wrong with their European cuisine like French Onion Soup, Coq Au Vin, Steaks and a glass of wine. If your date is more hands-on, then consider the property’s excellent Seafood speciality restaurant - Bay View. The tables are set under thatched umbrellas and are a little closer to the sea. Get some Prawn Mango Curry, Grilled Fish and Beer.

Written By

A self proclaimed food geek and coffee nerd, Amit Patnaik enjoys his time in the kitchen as much as he loves dining out. He runs the food blog Pursuit of Yummyness and contributes to The Hindu in Chennai.